Dynamic soil-structure interaction of piles in soft soils

During a seismic event, a coupled behavior known as soil-structure interaction (SSI) may be highly relevant if the given structural stiffness is large in comparison to the underlying soil rigidity. Regarding a foundation's structural seismic design, some methodologies are usually employed in professional practice, which depend on the considered degree for controlling the foundation's non-linear (inelastic) structural behavior. SSI could be analyzed either by a fully coupled analysis or a decoupled SSI study. This research provides a framework applied for deep foundations as a means to realize an enhanced decoupled SSI analysis through an inertial co-efficient beta, which considers the lack of simultaneity between the inertial and kinematic inter-action effects and in estimating the structural demand of piles with limited or no nonlinear behavior. Numerical and analytical methods were employed in addition of a comprehensive site investigation, involving a deltaic-estuarine environment in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador.